Vince Cable: 'Exit from Europe would seriously damage the economy'

EUROPEAN Parliament elections are usually a chance for voters to sound off with a message of protest, or simply abstain.

"Who cares?", and "What does it matter?", has been a common reaction.

But this time – less than 100 days from now – it does matter. Thanks to UKIP.

Its leader, Nigel Farage, has been happily touring the clubs, bars and broadcast studios for months telling anyone who will listen that he thinks his party will win.

That could be a disaster, not only for Britain, but right here in Hull.

UKIP's policies range from the barmy to the dangerous, none more so than their ultimate aim of pulling Britain out of the European Union.

Be under no illusions. Exit from Europe would seriously damage the economy and destroy jobs.

The Conservatives are deeply divided and won't engage. Many of them sympathise with UKIP and want to pull us out of Europe, too.

And Labour are shying away from making the case publicly, keeping their heads below the parapet.

They both seem to be content to let UKIP steal the limelight and edge us all slowly towards the European exit door.

Only the Liberal Democrats are making the case to keep Britain in Europe.

In for the sake of more than three million British jobs linked to trade with the EU.

In so that Britain can influence the rules around trade, or climate change.

The real question at this May's election is, in or out?

UKIP clearly wants us out, the Liberal Democrats want us in.

If you have seen Nigel Farage on television, or met him in the pub, you might think "this guy's all right, he seems like a laugh".

I am sure he is perfectly good company. But what he says is dangerous.

More than three million jobs and billions of pounds of investment in Britain are potentially at risk if his party's eurosceptic obsession is allowed to gain credibility.

If we leave the EU, there is a risk that British companies could face serious barriers in the EU's market.

Those successful countries that have stayed outside, like Norway and Switzerland, manage by agreeing to European rules over which they have no control, as non-members.

Leading American, German and Japanese employers such as Nissan, Siemens and Ford have already warned they could cut investment or even relocate from the UK to countries still inside the EU, causing big job losses.

Here in the Hull and East Yorkshire area, firms such as BAE Systems, which employs hundreds of people locally, have said our EU membership is vital to their success.

It is why eight out of ten CBI members, and more than eight out of ten manufacturers and financial firms want us to stay in the EU.

They have located here because they were confident they could trade in the EU and now they risk losing access to a key market.

So, I am not the least bit relaxed about UKIP winning in May.

I want to stop them.

The Liberal Democrats want to stop them. And we need your help.

Don't wait for a General Election or a referendum. If you want to stop UKIP we have less than 100 days. Are you in?